The Ultimate Resy Guide to Chicago Brunch

A pioneer in Logan Square, Lula Cafe is likely to grace the city’s “best brunches” lists in perpetuity. And for good reason: Standouts at this new-wave American classic include braised chicken cassoulet, ricotta hand pies, custard-stuffed French toast, and a cheesy savory crêpe. The bright, cozy space and warm service have enticed many brunchers back for dinner — which is equally delicious.

Perched atop the swank Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, Cindy’s Rooftop features sprawling views of downtown’s Millennium Park and Lake Michigan. The New American menu is versatile, serving hearty seasonal options like pastrami spice-smoked salmon, decadent buttermilk pancakes, and a crispy katsu sandwich. Choose your own adventure and order a round of juice-packed DIY mimosas for the table.

Critically acclaimed chef Stephen Gillard of S.K.Y. opened Apolonia in 2021, and not only is the food impressive, so is the sizable restaurant, with its 18-foot ceilings and bright, airy feel. The contemporary menu is a blend of Mediterranean and European favorites, including Boursin-laced soft scrambled eggs, handmade pastas, and steak and eggs in purgatory with Calabrian chiles. An extensive selection of wines and vermouth by the glass make this one of the more refined brunch options in town. 

Serving a seafood-forward brunch inside Fulton Market’s Soho House, Sueños brings a laid-back Baja California feel to the city. This pop-up restaurant is led by Leña Brava’s former chef, Stephen Sandoval, who has cooked in kitchens from Argentina to Mexico to Spain. The Mexican brunch here includes aguachiles and tuna tostadas, as well as homestyle favorites like chilaquiles and a “Diego burrito” loaded with steak and French fries. The top-notch bar program is piloted by Boka’s Danielle Lewis.

Look for traditional French fare with a few tasty twists in this endearingly casual, but white-tablecloth, modern French bistro from brothers Nicolas and Oliver Poilevey of Le Bouchon fame. The brunch menu busts out clever pâtisserie items like a foie gras danish and garlic-butter croissant with escargot, plus a hearty quiche with optional truffles and Alsatian corned beef hash.

When you’re in the mood for pancakes, but you want them savory and Japanese in flavor profile, head to Gaijin, chef Paul Virant’s okonomiyaki restaurant and a beautiful tribute to Japan’s singular pancakes. You can add pork sausage, bacon, and egg to Osaka or Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki options, with coffee or strawberry mochi doughnut holes for dessert.

The only thing better than Italian food for dinner is Italian food for brunch, and Segnatore’s weekend daytime menu checks all the boxes. Both the dining room and cuisine are elegant and charming, nodding stylistically to Old World Italy. Try their sunchoke bucatini, sourdough truffle prosciutto sandwich, and hashbrowns with foie gras and smoked trout roe, and get your coffee and cocktail together with the Little Italy — a heady mix of coffee, whiskey, sweet vermouth, and amaro.

Opened earlier this year, Roux is a new addition to Hyde Park, serving a New Orleans-style menu out of a breezy dining room. Chef Charlie McKenna draws on his Southern roots for the all-day breakfast, which includes housemade pastries like sweet beignets and cream cheese-glazed cinnamon rolls, as well as savory options like country ham, biscuits and gravy, brisket hash, and a fried green tomato tartine.

More info here.

Helmed by Top Chef contestant Carlos Gaytán, Tzuco is an upscale Mexican fusion restaurant with an earthy ambiance that’s lovely for brunch. The menu reads like a best-of list of Continental brunch classics done up with Mexican flavors — think sweet and savory duck waffles and chorizo-chipotle crêpes. Don’t miss the Chilaquiles Bloody Mary, with house-infused tortilla liquor.

The Superkhana International brunch menu skews a little more playful than most, with Indian ingredients popping up in diner-style classics like the bacon, lettuce, and chutney; or the breakfast dosa hash. The colorful atmosphere is equal parts cute and chic, which fits right in in Logan Square. Save room for the saffron cardamom ice cream sandwich and a Nocino chai cocktail with cold oat chai, walnut liqueur, and cinnamon Tequila.

For brunch, this no-frills Kurdish kitchen offers a sprawling multi-person spread loaded with feta, fresh mozzarella, kashar cheese, fried cheese rolls, fries, cucumbers, jams, and more, with a bottomless pour of Kurdish tea. Omelets filled with herbs and soujouk (beef sausage) and baklawa crêpes round out the daytime offerings at Chicago’s first Kurdish restaurant.

Get all things duck at this inviting gastro-tavern steered by chef Kevin Hickey. The rotisserie duck hash is a beloved brunch staple, while other poultry-heavy options like chili-braised duck, fried duck eggs with duck fat potatoes, and duck fat dogs are also superb (there are also non-duck options like shrimp and grits and French toast, too). Grab a seat outside in the lush garden patio during warmer months.

The dinner menu at Bar Goa is served all day long, but the Sunday brunch menu is a streamlined affair, featuring a roasted half chicken, shrimp “pao”-boy, curry omelet, and a chorizo egg sandwich, plus a few sides like fried chicken nuggets and peri peri potato wedges. The food is an effortless blend of Portuguese and Indian cuisines, as is the decor, which projects a beachy bohemian paradise.

A gastropub stalwart in Logan Square, Longman and Eagle serves brunch all week, with hearty fare like a wild boar sloppy joe, Slagel Farm double-patty cheeseburger, and buttermilk fried chicken and waffles with hot honey bourbon butter. Book a room at the old-school inn upstairs if you need a place to sleep off the heavy meal afterwards.

This Southern-inspired outpost in the heart of Andersonville delivers a simple charm that feels perfect for lazy mornings. Opt for creamy shrimp simmered in housemade tasso gravy and cheesy grits, bacon fat-enhanced cornbread, and crawfish cakes with poached eggs. Then relieve your sweet tooth with griddled French toast with creamsicle custard, fruit, and whipped cream. The whisky and bourbon-forward cocktail list helps cut some of the richness.

When you want brunch to feel like a party, Beatnik is the answer. The menu transcends genres, featuring citrus-cured scallops, smoked baba ganoush, ahi tuna tostadas, slow-roasted lamb, and more. The music and decor are just as loud, with glittering chandeliers, funky patterned tiles, and enormous fig trees throughout. Go with a group and prepare to cut loose.

Handlebar specializes in meatless made-from-scratch comfort food slung out of a casual bar setting. Expect rib-sticking options like chimichangas with cashew queso and seitan sausage biscuits and gravy. It’s an easygoing place where you can order a beer and a shot at the bar, or take your brunch outside to the broad back patio for a leisurely afternoon. 

More info here.